Armando Madonna was born in Alzano Lombardo (Bergamo), on July 5, 1963.
He started playing football with local Atalanta youth sector and made his debut for the first team in 1981. The Bergamaschi were in C1 and won the league and promotion under manager Ottavio Bianchi. Madonna played 12 league games with 1 goal (Piacenza) and 6 in the Serie C Coppa Italia. The following year, Atalanta finished 8th in Serie B and Madonna played 7 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
In 1983 he joined Piacenza in C2. He stayed 5 seasons with "Il Piace". In the first they won promotion to C1 under manager Battista Rota and Madonna was top scorer with 13 league goals. The two following seasons he was captain of the "Papaveri" (The Poppies) went close to promotion with two 3rd places. In 1986-87 they were finally promoted to Serie B still under Battista Rota and Madonna was top scorer with 12 goals. The following year they finished 13th in Serie B and Madonna was top scorer with 9 league goals. At Piacenza he made a total of 146 league appearances with 46 goals.
In the autumn of 1988 he returned to Atalanta now in Serie A. The "Dea" manager was Emiliano Mondonico and the Nerazzurri finished an excellent 6th. Madonna played 28 league games with 4 goals (Roma, Cesena, Inter, Roma again) and 4 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Lazio x2). The Orobici also reached the semi-finals of the domestic cup but were defeated by eventual winners Sampdoria 3-6 on aggregate.
His second season in Bergamo was equally positive. He played 29 league games with 8 goals (Verona, Lecce, Cremonese, Inter, Genoa, Lecce, Sampdoria, Lazio) plus 4 games in Coppa Italia and 2 in the UEFA Cup. The Atalantini finished 7th in Serie A but did not get past the last 64 in Europe (Spartak Moscow 0-2 on aggregate). With 8 league goals, including an 85th minute winner against Inter, and a European debut, Madonna was ready for a bigger stage.
In the summer of 1990 he signed for Lazio. In Rome he found iconic manager Dino Zoff and a club on the rise after some difficult years. In his first year he played 25 league games with 2 goals (Bologna,Genoa) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. Lazio finished 11th and Madonna rarely played at his Atalanta levels. The following season he stayed on but with the arrivals of Thomas Doll and Giovanni Stroppa lost his place in the team and in the autumn transfer market session went back to Piacenza in Serie B.
Back in Emilia with the "Lupi" (The Wolves) he found form again and played 27 league games with 5 goals (Casertana, Modena x2, Pescara, Udinese). The Biancorossi under Gigi Cagni finished 11th.
In 1992 he moved to Ferrara and SPAL in Serie B. The Estensi struggled and were relegated, alternating between two different managers, Gian Cesare Discepoli (1-7), former Lazio player Rino Marchesi (8-29) and Discepoli again (30-38). Madonna played 21 league games.
In 1993 he returned home to Alzano Virescit in the amateur league. In 1995 the Bianconeri were promoted to Serie C2, in 1996 to C1, in 1998 won the Serie C Coppa Italia and in 1999 were promoted to Serie B. A great run by the Seriani who however only lasted one season in serie B and returned to C1. Madonna stayed nine seasons with his home side and despite a serious injury played a total of 259 league games with 29 goals.
He then retired at 39 and went straight into coaching.
He started where he left off, at Alzano Virescit as assistant to Davide Roncaglia, from March 2003 to June. The club then merged with Centro Giovanile Virescit Bergamo and re-started from the lower amateur divisions but without Madonna.
He reappeared at Albinoleffe (Bergamo) spending five years in their youth sector. In May 2008 he became the Blucelesti's head coach in Serie B taking over from Elio Giustinetti. He stayed on the following season and achieved 9th place. The next year after seven games he moved on after a fall out with the club owner Gianfranco Andreoletti. His successor was Emiliano Mondonico.
He went back to Piacenza as head coach in serie B but the Biancorossi were relegated after a playout (Albinoleffe...).
In 2011 he moved to Livorno in January taking over from Walter Novellino but was sacked in May after W5, D6 and L8. The Amaranto finished 17th.
In 2012 he was at Portogruaro (Venice) in Lega Pro (third tier). "Il Porto" were relegated after the playouts.
From August to December 2013 he was back at Albinoleffe in Lega Pro. He was replaced after 15 games (W7, D2, L6) by Elio Giustinetti. The Seriani eventually finished 7th.
In November 2015 he took over at Virtus Bergamo in Serie D. The Bianconeri finished 16th. He stayed on two more seasons with 4th (lost playoff final) and 6th places.
In June 2018 he became head coach of Inter's Primavera (U19's). In 2019 they lost the Super Cup on penalties to Torino and the Scudetto final to Atalanta. He held the job for three seasons.
As a player Madonna was a right wing. He is 1.80 and 74 kilos. He was a creative player, providing assists for his attacking partners particularly with his crossing abilities. He showed these assets at Piacenza but especially at Atalanta where he had his best years.
He often played well against Lazio (3 goals) but rarely shone in the Biancoceleste jersey. Like many before him, and no doubt many will follow, he did not adapt to the big step from a smaller provincial club to a bigger stage (despite his name some might say...). He often looked slow, clumsy and lacking confidence. Unfortunately, he disappointed in Rome and can be considered one of their negative signings, especially considering the expectations.
His son Nicola followed his father's footsteps and became a footballer playing 6 games in Serie A for Atalanta and 361 career games, between Serie B and C, for Albinoleffe, Vicenza, Spezia, Como, Padova, Giano Erminio and currently Virtus Ciserano Bergamo.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1990-91 | 27 (2) | 25 (2) | 2 |
Sources
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